Global Lead Education

Context

Established in 1946, NRC is an independent, humanitarian, non-profit, non-governmental organisation working in over 30 countries. We employ a rights-based approach, challenging those with the responsibility to uphold the rights of displaced people set out within national and International Laws. We do this through our programmes, where we provide assistance to meet immediate humanitarian needs, prevent further displacement and contribute to durable solutions. At the root of our programmes are our solid technical expertise and specific sectorial knowledge aiming for the highest possible quality, whether in stand-alone or integrated approaches.

NRC aims to ensure that children and youth affected by displacement enjoy quality education that is relevant to their psychosocial, emotional and cognitive development, across all phases of displacement. We provide opportunities for school-aged children (6 to 18 years old) to complete a full cycle of basic education, and diverse learning pathways across the education continuum for youth (15 to 24 years old). Our core target group consists of children and youth who are out of school or have had their education interrupted.

We are looking for an experienced humanitarian with a strategic mindset, a global perspective, strong leadership skills and excellent personal and interpersonal skills to lead the Education Core Competency in NRC.

Come join us!

What you will do

You will be the organisation’s strategic leader for the Education Core Competency. This means you are accountable for ensuring the scope, quality, and relevance of the Education programme approach within NRC. The Global Education Lead ensures continuous development and improvement within Education, including developing policy, strategy, standards, evidence and learning, innovation, generating funding, and coordinating the sharing of knowledge and expertise in relation to Education at all levels within NRC. The Global Education Lead also develops and maintains strategic level external relationships and networks within Education.

The Global Education Lead is part of the Programme Policy and Development (PPD) unit under the Global Programme Section. PPD is part of a technical matrix structure, team members are required to work collaboratively with colleagues in both the technical and the operational management structures at all levels (Head Office, Regional Offices (RO), and Country Offices (CO)). They ensure the maximisation of organisational capacity to successfully innovate and evaluate new approaches by working collaboratively, and within virtual matrix teams, with colleagues at the RO and CO level, to set up and deliver pilots of new approaches. Collaborative working is essential to effectiveness in the role and maximising the shared learning across NRC.

We know that you are curious and would like to learn more about this role; please click here to access the full Job Description.

What you will bring

• Minimum 8 years of relevant leadership/management/adviser experience within the humanitarian field;
• Extensive experience in education in emergencies programming for children and young people, including in first phase responses and protracted crises;
• Experience of strategic approaches to programme development;
• Experience in drafting and encouraging the implementation of policy/strategic guidance, and developing practical tools and resources for a wide range of responses;
• High level of understanding of organisational learning, and the role and contribution of M&E to programme development;
• High level of understanding of, and experience with, providing technical leadership and working collaboratively and supportively with colleagues both within the function and operationally, including capacity development;
• Understanding of effective matrix management, including working with virtual teams and providing technical supervision and support outside of a line management relationship;
• Credibility to represent NRC at a strategic level, and contribute to global policy developments with key donors and stakeholders;
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Knowledge of French or Spanish is a strong advantage.

Whom you will work with

You will join our colleagues in Head Office and be part of the Programme Policy and Development (PPD) unit, in the Field Operations department at Head Office, Oslo. You will report to the Director Programme Policy and Development. The PPD unit sets NRC’s programme policy, develops accompanying strategies, and provides the required guidance that enables NRC to implement quality humanitarian assistance. To ensure that NRC is a leading displacement organization the PPDU continuously explores new areas, fosters knowledge and learning, and is NRC’s programme face to the global humanitarian community.

What makes this position attractive?

• A challenging and exciting opportunity with an international team dedicated to advocating for the rights of people forced to flee;
• A chance to set the direction for our Education Core Competency;
• A permanent position with Oslo as ​the preferred duty station, but we are also open to considering placement at other NRC duty stations;
• Salary and benefits according to NRC’s salary scale and terms and conditions.

We are also looking for people who share our values:

• To be dedicated in what we do;
• To be innovative with our solutions;
• To act as one unified and inclusive team;
• To be accountable to the donors that make our work possible; the beneficiaries that we exist to serve; and to each other… the members of our NRC family.

We are happy about early applicants.